The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1887-01-26
A TALK ABOUT INDIANS.
AN INTERVIEW WITH COL. ARTHUR
GRABOUSKI.

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Colonel Arthur Grabousk was in Au-
gusta yesterday and, the Chronicle re-
porter falling to catch him on the wing,
drove out to the stately mansion of Mrs.
o"nles Gardner. The reporter was
ushcred into the parlors at the hospitable
mansion, but was not allowed to remain
there but few seconds before he was
ushered into the sitting room, where
Colonel Grabouski was seated before O.
comfortable fire.
The Colonel has distinguished as
well as classical appearance, and the
cordial greeting extended the Chronicle
representative, when he informed tho
Colonel Of his mission, immediately
stamped him as man of excellent judg-
ment. lie was willing to give the people
any information that he might possess
that would be of interest to them. The
reporter thcreupon said
Colonel, knowing that you had some
trouble III Kansas and that charges were
made against you, will you kindly tell
me about 1t and also something about
the Indians?"
"The difficulty ] had was simply the
objection of the people Of Kansas to an
outsider taking charge of what they con-
sldcr homo institution. In addition
thereto there is considerable feeling still
existing there in regard to the war.
lheSc charges against me were so con-
tnual that three or four times the de-
pnrtment sent investigation committees
AL OF whom Were perfectly satisfied that
there was no cruelty, and that everything
was managed satisfactorily"
"Ilas the feeling died out?"
1T was only amongst few and has
entirely died out. As an evidence of
which there was tcndercd on my leaving
aJo!nt banquet with OK Governor Charles
Robinson, given by at least one hundred
and fifty Of tho leading citizens, at which
banquet | received n handsome souvenir.
Whilst greatly interested i'll the work of
educating the Indians the duties were
exceedingly onerous, and having an ap-
pointmcnt offered in the Department of
the Bureau Of Labors the distributing
OF products which would make my field
OF labor i'll Georgia, Alabama, Missis-
Slppl and Louisiana accepted it,"
TIE WORK AMONG TILE INDIANS.
"Thc people would like to know some
thing OF your work among the Indians;
will yon kindly cnlightcn them?"
"llaskcIl Institute is one of the United
States Indian industrial schools, having
during my administration three hundred
pupils, onc-third of whom were females,
ranging i'll age from - to 80 years, re-
siding at the institution provided with
everything by the government. The
object of the institution is to let indus
| trial training go hand in hand with the
English language and the fundamental
principles OF an education. Among the
trades taught are blacksmithing, carpen-
tcrng, shocmaking, farming, tailoring,
etc.
"llow do they take to cducation?"
hey arc intelligent when aroused
and they make remarkable progress in
the English language. They make them
selves understood and their shop work
is of value in n short time"
"After being i'll the institution any
length OF time do they retain their
trcacherous naturc?'
"Iheir nature is suspicious, not treach-
crous. After they give confidence and
obedience for once it is for good. | do
not rccollcct II single instance in which
man or woman went back on promise
given the superintendent"
"What do you consider the main lever
Undoubtedly the effect of Christians
ty upon the morals and lives of there
people. This opinion is shared in both
by the President and the Secretary of
the Interior"
"What becomes of these Indians after
finishing their education?"
''SOme of them return to their people
and become instructors in what are called
agency schools, others become govern
ment employees at agencies. The majori-
ty, however, form what Is known as the
new Indian element, they are the freight
CrS and small farmers of the agencies,
and are the ones who are now asking q
distribution Of Indian lands in scveralty."
"Havc you ever visited the Indian
agencics?"
II have visited number Of them, met
the chief men III council and went in O
number of their camps from tent to
tent"
Having been among them, what is
your opinion upon the solution Of this
troublesome problem?'
"lhe middle aged Indian, man or
woman, will have to pass to their grave
but little improved, as they seem unsus-
ccptible OF improving. The hope of the
Indian race lies in those under twenty
i'S ) S'l9 VI "Sc' INSTANCES arc not un-
common where older Indians take steps
toward civilization in breaking grounds
for farms, but these are exceptions
Recognizing this the Government directs
its attention to the young men and
women of the different tribes, and will
undoubtedly solve the question by the
gradual extinction OF the old Indian and
the budding citizenship of the young
Indians"
st. Paul young man was surprised
and shocked the other day. He was